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THE QUESTION
Latin Mass and Worship
Pope Benedict is encouraging wider use of Latin Mass. What elements of tradition -- including language -- are essential for worship?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on July 11, 2007 5:52 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Is the Pope catholic (small c)?
The problem this time was not the positive claim but the negative stress on how non-Catholic Christians cannot be church.
Posted by Martin Marty, on July 18, 2007 9:56 AM
Give the People a Choice
As an Anglican, my tradition held from our beginning that the language of the liturgy should be in the language of the people.
Posted by Jane Holmes Dixon, on July 17, 2007 9:44 AM
Keeping Secrets: The Laity, the Latin Mass and the LA Settlement
The timing of the re-introduction of the Latin Mass at this time is very instructive, especially in regard to the U.S. Catholic Church. At a time when the Catholic Church in the U.S. needs to be working on becoming more...
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on July 17, 2007 8:26 AM
End Schism: Speak Latin
People should be free to worship in their language of choice, even if they are romantics.
Posted by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, on July 17, 2007 8:06 AM
Ita Missa Est
The real issue is the power of local bishop to decide whether the pre-Vatican II mass will be said in his diocese.
Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on July 17, 2007 7:27 AM
Back to Greek or, Better, Aramaic?
If a religion changes, it may go wrong; if it does not, it must go wrong.
Posted by John Dominic Crossan, on July 16, 2007 9:07 AM
Why I Love the Latin Mass but Wonder About the Pope's Motives
The Latin Mass began to speak to me not as something old-fashioned and oppressive but instead of things wonderful and awesome.
Posted by Donna Freitas, on July 16, 2007 8:03 AM
Tradition vs. Idolatry
Worship, or liturgy, is built on tradition. Much of what we do in our houses of faith has roots in history. Even the self-described non-denominational or non-liturgical churches perform actions done thousands of years ago. Singing in church has roots...
Posted by Bob Edgar, on July 16, 2007 7:33 AM
Riding the Pendulum
The issue raised by Pope Benedict’s preference for Latin is not one of worship quality, but of worship authority.
Posted by Kathleen Flake, on July 16, 2007 6:22 AM
Pray So You Understand
You pray with intention- you do what you are doing deliberately. If you do not understand, you cannot do that properly.
Posted by Julia Neuberger, on July 13, 2007 10:36 AM
Lovely Language, Ugly Words
In my opinion, it's fine to do the Catholic Mass in Latin, if the priest and the audience want to. Ancient languages are wonderful to give a sense of connection to tradition - though Jesus himself spoke Aramaic, and much...
Posted by Robert Thurman, on July 13, 2007 9:14 AM
Tradition Must Stay Close to Truth
Worship must be rooted in the Scripture, the Creeds, and the Apostolic teaching that all Christians hold in common.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on July 13, 2007 8:53 AM
Verbum Sapienti Satis
Latin, while old, is not religion. It is neither sacred nor better than the current vernacular language.
Posted by Chester Gillis, on July 13, 2007 7:18 AM
Once A Sacred Cow, Always A Sacred Cow
What is wrong with a religion that claims to have an infallible leader is the idea that what was once held sacred must remain sacred today.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on July 12, 2007 10:16 AM
Super-Titles for the Kingdom of Heaven
Super-titles have been an enormous boon in the opera, which is, after all, very much like the church.
Posted by Wendy Doniger, on July 12, 2007 8:26 AM
The Power of Poetry
For most of us the sound of spoken Latin may be so alien that the poetry in it is difficult to hear.
Posted by Christopher Dickey, on July 12, 2007 7:21 AM
The Sacred Cow of Liturgy
Suggesting we change a line in the liturgy would be considered heretical -- and not just mildly heretical but wildly so -- in the eyes of many Muslims
Posted by Pamela K. Taylor, on July 11, 2007 8:37 AM
Heritage Is Sound, Silence is Amnesia
False is the argument that people need to hear everything in their own language in order to understand.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on July 11, 2007 7:30 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Jon: As a non-Catholic, I hesitate to comment on a Catholic internal issue. Let me point out that liturgical-style worship in many faiths often u...
Mary: I think it is important to understand your history so you do not make the same mistakes. Do we need to return to history to do that? Or do...
Nicole: I'm not Catholic so I can't say much for catholic worhship. But I will say that I worhship My Lord and Savior the Creator God in the way he ...
